Arad: 46km (28 miles) E of Beersheva.
The modern desert city of Arad, with a population of 22,000, is not a mirage, but rather a well-planned town located on the site of an ancient Israelite settlement -- a concrete testimonial to the continuity of Jewish history. There is bus service to the city from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Beersheva; and sheruts and taxis travel the road to the Dead Sea spas at Ein Bokek and Ein Gedi. Arad is a logical place to stay if you're exploring the desert region. At 2,000 feet above sea level, the town's ultradry, mold-free climate is especially good for people who suffer from allergies or asthma, and hotels in Arad cater to such visitors.
It is interesting to note that Arad is a planned Western-style city, begun in 1961, and mapped out to efficiently meet the rigid desert conditions in the most comfortable manner. Today, however, many believe a city plan more rooted in desert tradition, with narrow, shaded, labyrinthine streets, might have been more successful. The cityscape is bleak here, and even more so in some of the other planned settlement communities in the Negev, such as Yeroham and Dimona. However, people are working to make these places succeed -- a good part of Israel's territory (and future) is here.
Arad Travel Experiences
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Traveling Across The Negev
Our group departed Eilat before 8:30 am on Sunday, March 23 and began our travels through the Negev. After a fairly short ride from... Continue reading »
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A New Day
15 hours of sleep later, and suddenly the world wasn't nearly quite so bad. I woke up at 7 am to the Jerusalem sun shining through the wi... Continue reading »
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Dead Sea, Jordan
The Dead Sea is very cool. I was surprised how blue it was. Somehow knowing there is nothing living in the sea makes me think... Continue reading »
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Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is a beautiful, wonderful place and is 1,312 feet below sea level. THE LOWEST PLACE ON EARTH. We went to the Dead sea after... Continue reading »
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Cannoning up Wadi Ma'in
In preparation for this years Raid, the team hiked from Wadi Ma’in to the Hot Springs and into the town of Mukawir. The team consisted of... Continue reading »
